It is indeed good to praise the Lord. It is indeed good to serve the Lord.
Often times, as humans, and particularly as a woman, it is easy to put "me" aside, and continue living our lives. There's work, school, service, community, etc.
A lesson the Lord has truly been putting on my heart is though it is good to praise Him, it is good to take rest in Him. It is good for Amber to take time for Amber.
Last weekend I went on a woman's retreat. It was a very relaxed retreat with talks focused remotely on being a woman of God. Saturday night we had a chance to just grow in sisterhood, but often times on retreat I need time to process or stop for a few moments, and the opportunity presented itself to me. I love bubble baths. I love relaxing and soaking in a tub filled with hot water and bubbles. It smells good. It feels good. It causes me to relax and gives me an opportunity to block out the world. I went back from the retreat refreshed, rejuvenated, and renewed. I knew I needed to keep fighting the good fight, and was encouraged to continue striving for holiness. This week I had an opportunity to go to confession, and only had 2 days of class. It was a very stress-free week. Even work wasn't all that stressful. Then today, we had Thanksgiving dinner at my house and it was the first year we haven't traveled for Thanksgiving, and it was so wonderful. I was able to sleep in, hang out with my dad, eat lots of food, and watch Disney movies to embrace the child in me and just relax. It was so perfect.
As I was lying here watching Cinderella I was thinking about this important reminder God has integrated into my life. I was hitting my breaking point. I was ready to hit a wall, but the good Lord helped me to stop before I was too far gone. He caught me just in time, another reminder in how perfect our God is. He has given me a multitude of opportunities to relax, rest, and care for my body in order to best be able to serve Him.
My dear sisters, and brothers, in Christ, I encourage you to remember to care for yourself amongst serving the Kingdom of God. Remember to serve yourself. It is good to take time for yourself, and even praise the Lord during this time set aside for just you. The weekend of the retreat, I was convicted to sing praises to the Lord while taking my "Amber" time. I encourage you to simply open your heart to the Lord, to His perfect love & mercy, and take that time to care for your body so you may be at your best to fully serve the Lord.
God bless!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
We're all Sinners
Lk 17:1-6:
Jesus said to his disciples,
"Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,
but woe to the one through whom they occur.
It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck
and he be thrown into the sea
than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
Be on your guard!
If your brother sins, rebuke him;
and if he repents, forgive him.
And if he wrongs you seven times in one day
and returns to you seven times saying, "I am sorry,"
you should forgive him."
And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you would say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."
Today's Gospel struck me with the reminder we are all imperfect, thus we should all be merciful towards one another. This year I moved out of my parent's house and into dorms, got a job, go to school full time, and make time for social things as well. I've been trying to do it all, as one may say. Anxiety and depression are a part of my struggle, my cross this time of year, and this year has been worse than in the past so far. Last year, it wasn't too bad. It did cause me to break up with my boyfriend at the time, but not as bad as this year. So when I had an anxiety attack last week it was really easy for me to be hard on myself, and to attempt analyzing what was causing and to ask how did I mess up this time? What did I do wrong?
I wanted to blame myself, but really God just wanted me to give this suffering as a sacrifice to him.
Friday I talked with my friend Nicole about my anxiety and what was going on, she reminded me that there is nothing wrong with having a simple prayer life. Sunday, when I finally made it to mass, the priest said in his homily, how we are to strive to live for the kingdom of God. As long as we try, as long as we have faith, and as long as we are giving all that we can give to serve the Kingdom, the Lord will be pleased.
I had to be reminded when time for judgement comes the Lord won't look at me and be like you failed this chemistry exam, you skipped class this many times, you did poorly on this quiz; rather, he will look at me and see you loved this person well, by staying up late you helped this person, by offering this anxiety to me you saved this soul. He will ask how well we loved his people, not how well we succeed by worldly standards.
May we always remember each of us is imperfect, forgive one another of our mistakes, and seek to love our God and others above all things.
God bless!
Jesus said to his disciples,
"Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,
but woe to the one through whom they occur.
It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck
and he be thrown into the sea
than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
Be on your guard!
If your brother sins, rebuke him;
and if he repents, forgive him.
And if he wrongs you seven times in one day
and returns to you seven times saying, "I am sorry,"
you should forgive him."
And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you would say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."
Today's Gospel struck me with the reminder we are all imperfect, thus we should all be merciful towards one another. This year I moved out of my parent's house and into dorms, got a job, go to school full time, and make time for social things as well. I've been trying to do it all, as one may say. Anxiety and depression are a part of my struggle, my cross this time of year, and this year has been worse than in the past so far. Last year, it wasn't too bad. It did cause me to break up with my boyfriend at the time, but not as bad as this year. So when I had an anxiety attack last week it was really easy for me to be hard on myself, and to attempt analyzing what was causing and to ask how did I mess up this time? What did I do wrong?
I wanted to blame myself, but really God just wanted me to give this suffering as a sacrifice to him.
Friday I talked with my friend Nicole about my anxiety and what was going on, she reminded me that there is nothing wrong with having a simple prayer life. Sunday, when I finally made it to mass, the priest said in his homily, how we are to strive to live for the kingdom of God. As long as we try, as long as we have faith, and as long as we are giving all that we can give to serve the Kingdom, the Lord will be pleased.
I had to be reminded when time for judgement comes the Lord won't look at me and be like you failed this chemistry exam, you skipped class this many times, you did poorly on this quiz; rather, he will look at me and see you loved this person well, by staying up late you helped this person, by offering this anxiety to me you saved this soul. He will ask how well we loved his people, not how well we succeed by worldly standards.
May we always remember each of us is imperfect, forgive one another of our mistakes, and seek to love our God and others above all things.
God bless!
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